The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is reserving more than $32 million in broadcast television time in the districts of 26 Republican Members, seven Democratic Members and three open seats.

It's the earliest in a cycle that the DCCC has placed a buy reservation for the fall campaign, a move that saves the committee money and ensures good placement for the spots.

The buy, described to Roll Call by a DCCC official, is mostly concentrated in states where the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney are likely to be playing.

The TV reservation was placed in such a way as to shield the specifics of the DCCC's strategy. For example, the committee booked $3.6 million in the Philadelphia media market. That means ads could run against Pennsylvania GOP Reps. Jim Gerlach, Patrick Meehan, Mike Fitzpatrick, Charlie Dent or New Jersey GOP Rep. Jon Runyan — or a combination of some of them. No one will know until the ads actually ship, giving the DCCC a strategic advantage.

The National Republican Congressional Committee spun the move as a sign of weakness.

"What’s revealing from this initial buy is that many are in districts of vulnerable House Democrats, including North Carolina’s [Reps.] Larry Kissell and Mike McIntyre," NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay wrote to reporters this morning. "In short, House Democrats are beginning the 2012 election season on defense."